ChromeOS's sleek Global Media Controls UI arrives in Chrome on Windows, Mac, Linux

The “Global Media Controls UI”, which lets you control video/audio playback in the Chrome browser, has received a fresh new look! Google is bringing this design from “ChromeOS” to other platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. Here’s how you can try it out right now in Chrome Canary on Windows.

Four years ago, Google launched Global Media Controls across platforms to simplify media playback management within the browser. When audio/video is playing, simply click the music icon on the toolbar to access the Media Hub, where you can see all your media notifications and adjust playback without switching tabs.

Initially, Google made Media Hub available on Chromebooks before rolling it out to Chrome on Windows and other platforms. Following the same approach, the company is applying a sleek new design to the Global Media Controls UI, introducing it first on ChromeOS before bringing it to Windows and other platforms.

Meet Chrome’s sleek, uncluttered, and minimalist Global Media Controls UI

Traditionally, Global Media Controls featured forward, pause/play, and backward buttons along with Picture-in-Picture and Live Captions options.

The new UI on Chrome for Windows ditches the dedicated seek buttons, opting for a cleaner look with just the play/pause button, PiP, and live captions. This minimalist design appears uncluttered and modern. However, keep in mind that this might not be the final version, as it just landed in Canary on Windows.

Ti ll now ChromeOS' has new Global Media Controls UI, Google is bringing that to Chrome on Windows and other platforms. This may not be the final UI. For more details and how to enable it in canary. https://t.co/Qb7daePMrP

— Venkat (@techvenkat) February 3, 2024

How to Enable the New & updated Global Media Controls UI in Chrome:

1. Open Chrome.
2. Visit chrome://flags.
3. Find and enable “Global Media Control Updated UI“.
   
4. Relaunch Chrome.
5. Open YouTube and play a video.
6. Click the GMC icon on the toolbar to see the new UI.

I love the new Global Media Controls UI. The seek bar is just awesome pic.twitter.com/SYQkoVikz7

— Venkat (@techvenkat) February 6, 2024

Requirements:

• Latest Chrome Canary (version 123)
• Enabled the “Global Media Control Updated UI” flag
• Chrome running on Windows, Mac, or Linux

Global Media Controls updated UI

Show updated UI for Global Media Controls in all the non-CrOS desktop platforms. – Mac, Windows, Linux

Do you like the new Global Media Controls UI that Google has brought from ChromeOS to Chrome on Windows, Mac, and Linux? Share your thoughts in the comments below